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Abrams Falls Out and Back

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.5 (102)
  1. Areas
  2. NC
  3. …West and Mountains
  4. …Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  5. Cades Cove
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“A great hike to Abrams Falls that the whole family will enjoy! ”

Kristen Arendt
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Map Key

5.1

Miles

8.2

KM

Out and Back

1,735' 529 m

High

1,470' 448 m

Low

550' 168 m

Up

550' 168 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly A relatively easy trail with gentle grades and a manageable length make this a great option for the whole family. Be sure to stop by the nearby Cades Cover Visitor Center before or after the hike!

Overview

This hike is one of the most popular day outings in the Smokies. Abrams Falls is a destination that you won't want to miss.

Description

The trailhead for the Abrams Falls Trail is located off the side of Cades Cove Loop Road, between exits 10 and 11, just northwest of the Cades Cover Visitor Center. A gravel road leads to a large parking area near the trailhead, and the turnoff is signed.

Start your hike on the Abrams Falls Trail. A short way into the trail, hikers will cross a footbridge over Abrams Creek. The hike to the Abrams Falls is fairly level the entire time with a slight overall descent as it follows along the creek. Along the way, be sure to look for rhododendron in the woods surrounding the trail. The trail heads through a scenic pine-oak forest on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forest along the creek.

About 2.5 miles, you'll come to Abrams Falls which are a great place to sit down and relax for a picnic. While the waterfall is only 20 feet high, it pours a huge volume of water per second into a pool roughly 100 feet wide. The long, deep pool at the base of Abrams Falls is very picturesque. Use caution near the falls, however, and do not get too close. The rocks surrounding the falls are extremely slippery due to the mist from the falls.

From Abrams Falls, hikers can choose to extend their hike past the falls towards Hannah Mountain Trail and Little Bottoms Trail, allowing the option to hike some excellent loops for those looking for a longer outing. For those who are happy with an outing to and from the falls, just retrace your steps back to the parking area to finish out this hike.

Flora & Fauna

The Smokies are home to more than 1,600 species of plants, most of which produce an abundance of flowers in the spring. These species include mountain laurel, rhododendron, azalea, and many others. Spring wildflowers peak from early April through late May.

As for local fauna, black bears are common in the area, along with white-tailed deer and 31 species of salamanders. Birdwatchers can also spot a variety of species along this trail.

History & Background

The waterfall and creek are named for a Cherokee chief whose village once stood several miles downstream.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Shared By:

Kristen Arendt
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 102 votes

#1

in Cades Cove

#80

Overall
  4.5 from 102 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
3%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Cades Cove

#4

in North Carolina

#80

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6,447 Since Aug 4, 2016
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Photos

Abrams Falls.
Feb 3, 2016 near Wildwood, TN
Abrams Falls in the summer.
Jan 23, 2016 near Wildwood, TN
Cades Cove. with permission from Justin P
Aug 4, 2016 near Wildwood, TN
Rhododendron blooms as you hike the trail in June.
Jan 23, 2016 near Wildwood, TN
Abrams Falls. with permission from RAllen
Aug 4, 2016 near Wildwood, TN
Abrams Falls.
Apr 15, 2016 near Wildwood, TN

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Nov 9, 2024
Joe Johnson
Aug 8, 2024
Colsen Conway
5.1mi
Jun 18, 2024
Scott Milewski
May 5, 2024
Keith Conway
2h 21m
Mar 25, 2024
Sara Ziegler
Steep in spots. Wet in a lot of places during spring. Beautiful falls. Took us about 3.5 hours but that was with a 20-30 minute stop at the falls.
Mar 17, 2024
Reese Hardy
Mar 16, 2024
Tom Muldowney
Previous trip
Feb 19, 2024
Ana Gonzalez
Beautiful day! 5.2mi

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